**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 500, to be answered on December 3, 2025. The question concerned the establishment of a full-fledged Doordarshan channel and Akashvani (All India Radio) programs dedicated to the Santhali language. The government stated that Doordarshan telecasts Santhali programs through existing channels and that Akashvani stations in regions with a significant Santhali-speaking population regularly broadcast programs in the language.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Doordarshan Broadcasts:**
* Doordarshan currently telecasts Santhali content through DD Jharkhand, DD Assam, DD Bangla, and DD Odia channels.
* **Akashvani Broadcasts:**
* Akashvani stations in regions with a significant Santhali-speaking population regularly broadcast programs in Santhali.
* These programs are broadcast in West Bengal from Akashvani Kolkata, Murshidabad, and Shantiniketan.
* Akashvani Ranchi and Chaibasa in Jharkhand, Akashvani Bhagalpur in Bihar, and Akashvani Baripada and Keonjhar in Odisha also broadcast programs in Santhali.
* The Regional News Unit, Kolkata produces a news bulletin in Santhali, carried by Akashvani, Kolkata on its Primary Channel.
* **Government Review:**
* The Government regularly reviews the reach, audience feedback, and demand patterns to strengthen the availability and accessibility of content in languages recognized in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
**Impact Analysis**
**Santhali-speaking population in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Assam**
* **Impact:** The population receives Santhali language broadcasts via existing Doordarshan and Akashvani services.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly mentioned. Continued engagement with Doordarshan and Akashvani services.
**Ministry of Information and Broadcasting**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ongoing review and potential strengthening of Santhali language programming.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring reach, audience feedback, and demand to improve accessibility and availability of content.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: The primary ministry responsible for information and broadcasting policies, including the establishment of Doordarshan and Akashvani channels.
Doordarshan: India's public service broadcaster, specifically in relation to establishing a dedicated channel for Santhali language programming.
Akashvani (All India Radio): India's public service radio broadcaster, specifically in relation to enhancing broadcasts in Santhali language.
West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam: Santhali-speaking regions where the demand for television and radio broadcasting in the Santhali language is being assessed.
8th Schedule of the Constitution: Refers to the schedule in the Constitution listing the official languages, which includes Santhali, and relevant to the provision of content in those languages.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 500
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025)
ESTABLISHMENT OF FULL-FLEDGED DOORDARSHAN CHANNEL AND
AKASHVANI PROGRAMME FOR SANTHALI LANGUAGE
500. SHRI KALIPADA SAREN KHERWAL:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has any proposal to establish a full-
fledged Doordarshan channel dedicated to programmes in Santhali
Language and to enhance Akashvani (All India Radio) broadcasts in
Santhali Language;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the proposed timeline for
launching such initiatives;
(c) whether the Government has assessed the demand from Santhali-
speaking regions of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha and Assam for
regular television and radio broadcasting in their own language and if
so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the reasons for the absence of a full-fledged Doordarshan
and Akashvani service for Santhali language, despite it being included
in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution?ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(DR. L. MURUGAN)
(a) to (d): Doordarshan telecasts Santhali content/ programmes
through DD Jharkhand, DD Assam, DD Bangla and DD Odia channels.
Akashvani Stations located in regions with a significant Santhali
speaking population also regularly broadcast programmes in Santhali
language. These programmes are being broadcast in West Bengal
from Akashvani Kolkata, Murshidabad and Shantiniketan.
Akashvani Ranchi and Chaibasa in Jharkhand, Akashvani Bhagalpur in
Bihar and Akashvani Baripada and Keonjhar in Odisha are also
regularly broadcasting programmes in Santhali.
In addition, Regional News Unit, Kolkata also produces a news bulletin
in Santhali which is carried by Akashvani, Kolkata on its Primary
Channel.
The Government regularly reviews the reach, audience feedback and
demand patterns from society to strengthen the availability and
accessibility of content in languages recognized in the 8th Schedule of
the Constitution.
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